THE CARP. 73 



a few minutes to recruit their strength. In this manner they are 

 made to perform long journeys with comparative security, and 

 scarcely any risk of loss. 



Carp are* subject to many diseases. We have seen them often 

 covered with spots like the small-pox ; and some of the large old 

 ones are frequently nearly white, as if infected with a kind of 

 leprous disorder. 



. The flesh of the carp is soft, luscious, well-flavoured and nou- 

 rishing. In Prussia, the head is preferred on account of its ex- 

 cellent flavour. The intestines are likewise esteemed delicacies 

 when eaten with pepper, ginger, and salt. In fact, the carp is an 

 excellent fish when properly cooked ; for accomplishing which, 

 almost any cookery book will furnish a tolerable receipt. The 

 soft-roed fish are much sought after by professed epicures as a 

 delicate dish ; and, indeed, some writers attribute to them the 

 property of restoring consumptive -persons to perfect health. 



The older physicians dabbled with the carp, as well as with most 

 other fish. His fat has been used as a^mollifymg unguent to soothe 

 the nerves when suffering under what is termed " hot rheumatism. 3 * 

 His gall has been applied as a linament for sore eyes. A small 

 triangular stone, supposed to be discerm'ble in the jaws of the 

 carp, is said to act as a styptic when ground to a fine powder, and 

 has been found efficacious in bleedings at the nose ; and " above 

 the eyes," says an old doctor, "two little bones exist, semicir- 

 cular in shape, which are diligently preserved by noble females 

 against the lunitical disease." All this seems sufficiently absurd at 

 the present day. 



The baits recommended for carp are very numerous, and many 

 of them very fanciful. Pastes of all kinds and colours, flavoured 

 with cheese, sugar, honey, gin, &c. ; beans, com, flies, slugs, gen- 

 tles, grubs, caterpillars, and worms, are to be found in this sin- 

 gular catalogue. In Germany, where carp abound, grains of 

 wheat, steeped in water until they swell and split the outer skin, 

 are considered tempting luxuries. A small grasshopper has occa- 

 sionally proved successful ; but no artificial bait will ever seduce 

 the carp. ^ Yet, notwithstanding this sumptuous array of dishes 

 for the epicure, perhaps, after all, a clean tough red-worm, or a big 

 bluebottle fly, will be found the most generally attractive bait for 

 this singular fish. 



The rod for carp-fishing should have plenty of spring, because 

 the line must be as thin and fine as possible, consistent with the 

 size and strength of the fish. Running tackle must be used for 

 carp, as, indeed, it ought to be for all fish, big or little ; and the 

 line, which should be of horsehair, must be only three hairs thick. 

 The bottom of the finest gut should be the length of the rod ; and 

 the hook, No. 8, must be covered over with the bait, shank and 

 all. If, however, you bait with a bluebottle, no matter how small 

 your hook, but it must be put across the body, just under the 

 wings. ^ 



